Toothpick-holder.



PATENTE D JAN. 30, 1906. W. LOEWEN. TOOTHPICK HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED NOV 23 1903 Inventor. I

Atfirnc] M/zinessea;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM LOEWEN, OF GLATZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ALOIS JOSEPH HETTWER, OF LAUDEOK, GERMANY.

TOOTHPICK-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM LoEwEN, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Ring 28, Glatz, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toothpick-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a holder for toothpicks, and is intended to enable the toothpicks to be taken out singly and to prevent the reintroduction of any toothpick which has been already used. This object is attained by the arran ement in the actual holder or receptacle 0 a fixed partition running through the middle thereof and onwhich the receptacle is movable. When the receptacle is stationary or in its normal position, this partitionextends above it. In the upper edge of the partition is a groove, into which when the frame is raised a toothpick falls. When the frame is lowered, the toothpick which is in the groove formed in the central partition is released.

In order that atoothpickwhich has already been used may not be replaced in the groove either inadvertently or intentionally and be made use of again, an ejector is arranged on the receptacle, and when the receptacle is raised engages below the tooth I ick that may be lying in the groove in the fiixed partition and removes it, so that when the receptacle is further raised an unused toothpick must be brought into the groove in thefixed partition.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the holder. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections alon the line A B in Fig. 1 in different positions of the receptacle.

The sides of the receptacle a are inclined inward near their lower edges, but held at some distance apart at both the top and bottom edges by the end plates to which they are fixed. The receptacle is mounted to slide on the guide-rods c by means of lugs b on the ends of the receptacle, the rods being firmly arranged on a bed-plate d. The plate cl has a central vertical partition 6, which runs through the middle of the receptacle (1, and when the latter is in its normal or lowest position extends above it, the upper end of the partition being furnished with a groove The receptacle 0. is movable up and down the Specification of Letters Patent.

A li ati filed November 23, 1903- fierial No. 182,284.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

partition and made dust-tight against the same by packings g h.

On the inside of the receptacle a a finger or ejector t is so pivoted that when the receptacle is in its lowest position the finger is pressed by a counterweight-spring or the like loosely against the partition 6, and when the receptacle is raised enters a recess is, formed in the partition e. For the purpose of limiting the raising of the receptacle (1, a cross piece Z, movably connected with the guide-bars c, is employed.

' The action is as follows: When the receptacle a is raised from the position in Fig. 2 into that shown in Fig. 3, the lowest toothpick in the receptacle a slips into the groove f in the partition e, in which when the frame is returned to its starting position it remains, so that it is accessible and may be taken out. When the receptacle a is again raised, any toothpick that may be in the groove f in the partition e is removed by the finger 'i, so that the groove is set free for the reception of an unused toothpick.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a divided receptacle for holding toothpicks, of a fixed frame in which the receptacle is mounted to slide, of a fixed vertical partition on theframepassing through the receptacle and provided with a groove along its upper edge above which the receptacle is raised to deposit a toothpick in the groove, and afterward lowered below the same to enable the toothpick to be removed, and a finger pivoted on the receptacle and arranged to eject as the receptacle is raised any used toothpick which may have been laid in the groove.

2. The combination with a receptacle and a vertical partition provided with a groove in its upper end, the receptacle and the partition being movable relatively to one another to cause the grooved upper end of the partition to pass through the upper wall of the receptacle, of means for ejecting any toothpick located in the groove from the groove when the grooved end is again caused to enter the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

WILHELM LOEWEN.

Witnesses:

ERNST KATZ, ALBERT SCHENK. 

